Mopar fans, check this ride out. Some of Dodge’s greatest performance hits dropped in the 1960s. Certain versions of the Polara, Dart, Coronet, and Charger were known as viable contenders in the booming muscle car segment. Today’s feature car showcases some of the engineering of that era. 

The Pick of the Day is a 1963 Dodge Polara convertible listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Lake Elsinore, California. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Beautiful convertible Dodge Polara, runs and drives great,” the listing begins. “This is not a numbers-matching car but is done very nicely. The paint, body, and interior are show-quality. The power top works great and looks great!”

The Polara joined the Dodge family in 1960 and was sold until 1973. Along that timeline, it spanned both mid-size and full-size segments. The name itself was derived as a reference to the Polaris star; the space race, after all, was in full swing during the 1960s and many automakers were getting in on the action.

For model year 1963, the Polara used unibody construction on the Dodge B-platform, and during both 1963 and 1964, it was only available as hardtop coupe or a convertible (other variants of the Polara over its production span included sedans and station wagons). Interestingly enough, positioned below the Polara was a “440” model. However, the 440 in that case did not refer to the engine displacement.

More importantly, in 1963, the Polara couldn’t be ordered with a 440. However, someone with high-horsepower aspirations took matters into his or her own hands and made it happen with this car. The unique hood bulges are an indication that there is something special going on with the powertrain. During restoration, it received a fuel-injected 440cid big-block V8 mated to a push-button automatic transmission. The seller says, “Everything is in good working order and all the gauges work.”

The car presents well from top to bottom, inside and out, based on the photos provided with the listing. Does the upgraded motor add or detract from the appeal of this Mopar? I’d love to hear your feedback.

“This is a classic that you can enjoy driving with the top down with your family and friends to car shows and events,” the listing concludes.

The asking price is $44,500.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.